Business Planning & Consulting

Controlling costs is fundamental for every business. But where and how to address this challenge can change over time based on various economic and logistical factors. Earlier this year, global consultancy Boston Consulting Group published a report entitled The CEO’s Guide to Costs and Growth. Within it were the results of a survey of 600 […]

Every type of company needs to devise a philosophy, strategy and various policies regarding compensation. Family businesses, however, face additional challenges — largely because they employ both family and nonfamily staff. If your company is family-owned, you’ve probably encountered some puzzling difficulties in this area. The good news is solutions can be found. Perspectives to consider Compensation […]

From the minute they open their doors, business owners are urged to keep a close eye on cash flow. And for good reason — even companies with booming sales can get into serious trouble if they lack the liquidity to compensate employees and pay their bills. Here are four ways businesses can better control cash […]

When business owners and their leadership teams meet to discuss strategic planning, the primary question on the table is usually something along the lines of, “How can we safely grow our company to reach the next level of success?” That’s certainly a good thing to ask and answer. But in today’s highly transparent world, where businesses […]

With each passing year, as networked technology becomes more and more integral to how companies do business, a simple yet grim reality comes further into focus: The cyberattacks will continue. In fact, many experts are now urging business owners and their leadership teams to view malicious cyberactivity as more of a certainty than a possibility. […]

Once your business has survived the start-up phase, it’s got a solid foundation to grow. Business and financial advisory services are critical at this stage of development. Here are some major areas or functions of your company to focus on as you look to take it to the next level. Financial and Tax Reporting  Businesses in […]

No matter how carefully and congenially you run your business, customer disputes will likely happen from time to time. Some of the complaints may be people looking to negotiate a discount, “game the system” or even outright defraud you. But others could be legitimate complaints arising from mistakes on your company’s part, technological glitches or, perhaps […]

If your company operates in the business-to-business (B2B) marketplace, you’ve probably experienced some collections challenges. Every company, whether buyer or seller, is trying to manage cash flow. That means customers will often push off payments as long as possible to retain those dollars. Meanwhile, your business, as the seller, needs the money to meet its […]

Many businesses support their communities by donating to local charities. Although there are plenty of nonprofits that deserve your support, some exist solely to facilitate fraud. How can you avoid the latter? Familiarize yourself with the deceptive tactics scammers use and carefully screen charities for legitimacy — before you write a check. Branding Tricks Fraud perpetrators […]

For businesses, cost-effectively sponsoring a health insurance plan for employees is an ongoing battle. In the broadest sense, you have two options: fully insured or self-funded. A fully insured plan is simply one you buy from an insurer. Doing so limits your financial risk while offering the most predictable costs. The other option is what’s […]